League Without Vipers is Like IPOD Without Nup-Basalirwa

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League Without Vipers is Like IPOD Without Nup-Basalirwa
League Without Vipers is Like IPOD Without Nup-Basalirwa

Africa-Press – Uganda. Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa, has warned that the Uganda Premier League (UPL) risks losing its competitiveness if current champions, Vipers SC, remain absent.

The new league season, which kicked off last month, has been overshadowed by a dispute over the recently introduced format.

Vipers have yet to take part in the 2025/26 campaign, citing a lack of consultation, financial risks, and disregard for club concerns.

Speaking to NBS Sport, Basalirwa urged football authorities to resolve the ongoing standoff, stressing that the quality of competition would drop without Vipers’ involvement.

“Vipers is one of the biggest clubs in this country, they are the ones with the trophies,” Basalirwa said.

“Having a league without Vipers will definitely lower the standard of competition. No one should deceive themselves; their absence is a big miss.”

He likened the situation to Uganda’s Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) operating without the National Unity Platform (NUP), which has the largest number of opposition MPs.

“It’s like having IPOD without NUP. We must do everything possible to bring Vipers back into the league. Without them, the competition will suffer,” he added.

The new UPL format for the 2025/26 season features a three-round system aimed at being “faster, fiercer, and fairer.”

It includes a single-leg first round, followed by a home-and-away second round where teams are split into two groups- the top eight and the bottom eight.

However, the changes have sparked resistance from Vipers and sections of the football community, who view the reforms as rushed and unfair.

While FUFA insists the new format will boost competitiveness and fan engagement, several clubs; including Vipers, SC Villa, and NEC, have opposed the move.

Vipers’ owner, Lawrence Mukindwa, has accused FUFA of blackmail and taking a top-down approach that sidelines key stakeholders, reaffirming his club’s stand against the new system.

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